WEBVTT WHEN IT COMES TO HOLIDAY SHOPPING...MOST PEOPLE PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR LONG LINES...A LACK OF PARKING...AND AN ENDLESS LIST OF THINGS TO BUY. BUT OUR GUEST SAYS PEOPLE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE MONEY THEY'RE SPENDING. LET'S WELCOME FELICIA DOUGLAS...OWNER OF THE LEGACY GROUP...WHICH PROVIDES FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES. BASED ON ONE HOLIDAY SPENDING SURVEY, IT SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE PLAN TO SPEND MORE MONEY THIS YEAR. ACCORDING TO ACCENTURE, THEIR HOLIDAY SURVEY FOUND THAT U.S. CONSUMERS INTEND TO SPEND $646 ON GIFTS THIS YEAR. THIS STATISTIC IS UP 11% FROM LAST YEAR AND ALMOST HALF OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID THEY WOULD SPEND AT LEAST HALF OF THEIR BUDGETS ONLINE. TO SAVE MONEY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: SHOP ALONE. OTHERS OFTEN TEMPT YOU TO BUY WHAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD. USE CASH FOR PURCHASES AND ONLY USE CREDIT AS THE LAST RESORT. INCLUDE NON-GIFT COSTS IN YOUR BUDGET LIKE TAPE, WRAPPING PAPER, AND DECORATIONS. THESE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR BUDGET. OPEN A CHRISTMAS ACCOUNT NEXT YEAR AND ROUTE IT TO A SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO SAVE SPECIFICALLY FOR CHRISTMAS SIMPLIFY HOLIDAY PARTIES. MAKE YOUR LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE! DON'T OVERSPEND. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY BIRD SPECIALS AT STORES, USE DISCOUNT CODES AND COUPONS, AND ALSO LOOK FOR BOGO SPECIALS ACCORDING TO SOME CREDIT COUNSELORS...IT CAN TAKE PEOPLE MONTHS OR YEARS TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY BOUGHT. CPA AND FOUNDER OF CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES INC., HOWARD DVORKIN, SAYS THAT CONSUMERS ARE PAYING FOR PURCHASES BEYOND SIX MONTH, A YEAR AND EVEN TWO YEARS OR LONGER THESE DAYS. PAY OFF CREDIT CARDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID HIGH INTEREST ACCRUAL PUT AT LEAST HALF THE AMOUNT YOU SPENT ON GIFTS AWAY IN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHERE YOU CAN POTENTIALLY GROW THE MONEY WITH INTEREST SPEAK TO FINANCIAL ADVISOR ABOUT WAYS TO SAVE TAX- FREE MONEY FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOPPING SEASON SPECIALS ACCORDING TO SOME CREDIT COUNSELORS...IT CAN TAKE PEOPLE MONTHS OR YEARS TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY BOUGHT. CPA AND FOUNDER OF CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES INC., HOWARD DVORKIN, SAYS THAT CONSUMERS ARE PAYING FOR PURCHASES BEYOND SIX MONTH, A YEAR AND EVEN TWO YEARS OR LONGER THESE DAYS. PAY OFF CREDIT CARDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID HIGH INTEREST ACCRUAL PUT AT LEAST HALF THE AMOUNT YOU SPENT ON GIFTS AWAY IN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHERE YOU CAN POTENTIALLY GROW THE MONEY WITH INTEREST SPEAK TO FINANCIAL ADVISOR ABOUT WAYS TO SAVE TAX- FREE MONEY FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOPPING SEASON